Though placed on the Army Establishment in 1803, the
regiment's recruiting parties did not become active in North America until 1805. This was
due to a failed attempt in the Scottish Highlands to raise the regiment from Highlanders
wishing to emigrate to the Canadas. Rumours of the regiment being sold to the East India
Company brought the first Canadian Fencible Regiment into open rebellion in late 1803.
After the regiment's disbandment, the commissioned and non-commissioned officers were
transferred to the Canadas to start over. The Highlander NCOs had little in common
with the French and English population and therefore found it difficult to entice settlers
to join the ranks of the regiment in a time of peace. The slow growth of the regiment made
the Horse Guards hesitant in supplying the fledgling corps with uniforms. To solve this
problem, the Lieutenant-Colone1 supplied his men with uniforms from the disbanded Queen's
Rangers. After surmounting these initial obstacles, the Canadian Fencibles began to
attract able-bodied men from Quebec City to Niagara to the ranks. By the opening of the
war, the Canadian Regiment had risen to a strength of over 600 rank and file.

The activities of the regiment during the opening year of the War of 1812-14 were focused
on the protection of the Montreal District. In July, the bearskin-headed ranks of the
Grenadier coy. and the 'light Bobs' of the light company were embodied with the flank
companies of other regular regiments to form a Flank Battalion. The Grenadier wing of the
battalion came under the command of Major DeHaren of the Canadian Regiment; the same
officer who formally accepted the American surrender at Beaver Dams, 1813. Though the majority of the regiment was in Lower Canada during
1812, there were detachments protecting supply flotillas up to Kingston, recruiting
parties in York, and an officer and his soldier servant attached to Major General Brock's
staff at the surrender of Detroit.

The trend of service of the Canadian Regiment was considerably altered during the year of
l813. Members of the regiment were employed as marines on Lake Champlain to harass
American efforts on that frontier. In August 1813, four companies under Major Cockburn
were sent to relieve the 2nd Battalion, 41st Regiment at Prescott. While stationed at
Prescott, the Canadian Fencibles on 7 0ctober crossed the St. Lawrence River at Red Mills and surprised a piquet of the 1st Regiment of U.S. Dragoons. The
detachment of Canadian Fencibles were in turn thanked by Major General De Rottenburg for
the successful execution of this adventure.

A detachment of the Fencibles at Prescott joined Lieut. Col. Morrison's force in its
pursuit of General Wilkinson's army down the St. Lawrence on November 3. In the battle of Crysler's Farm, three days later, the Canadian Regiment was posted on the right
of the line and, in conjunction with the flank companies of the 49th Regiment. made a very
gallant but unsuccessful charge upon the enemy guns. One lieutenant, one ensign and four
privates were killed, and l4 rank and file of the regiment were wounded in this
engagement. Several members of the regiment received a medal for their role in the action
of November 11. The other major engagement of l813 that the Canadian Fencibles
participated in was the Battle of theChateauguay.
Taking position again on the right of the line, the light company of the regiment
"bore the brunt of the principal attack in the memorable action on the 26th October
1813." In this battle the King's force of 300, composed entirely of Canadians, were
able to turn Hampton's army of 5,000 and their thrust for Montreal.

The events of l814 served to enhance the credibility of the Canadian Fencibles. In
February, 1814 four companies of Canadian Fencibles along with detachments from the 89th
and 103rd Regiments attacked the rear guard of Wilkinson's army across from
Cornwall at Salmon River. This force of 600 captured a hundred sleigh loads
of provisions and stores, and pursued the retreating enemy to with in a few miles of
Plattsburg. On March 30, 4,000 Americans under Wilkinson attacked the garrison at Lacolle Bridge held by the l3th Regiment and the Royal Marines. The Canadian
grenadiers, along with a company of Voltigeurs, marched all day, at points waist high in
icy water, to reinforce the outnumbered British. Through a gap in the enemy lines, the
grenadier company was able to reach the garrison. Upon their arrival, the Grenadiers and
Voltiguers made two gallant but unsuccessful charges to capture the American guns. After
stiff fighting the American army soon withdrew back to Plattsburgh. This was the last
engagement of the regiment.

The second half of l814 was spent doing garrison duty at Kingston. During this time Major
Cockburn and 50 rank and file, experienced with the axe, were dispatched to
Penetanguishene to build that area's first fortifications. Throughout the next year, the
regiment slowly migrated towards the Niagara frontier, doing garrison duty for the first
half of 1815 at York, and occupying Fort George for the second half. In May 1816 the
regiment was ordered back to Montreal and was disbanded. Many were granted land in the
Rideau Military Settlement around Perth while others simply returned to their original
areas of settlement. - Robert Henderson

Formed in 1984, the Canadian Fencibles set out to
create an accurate representation of the Canadian regular during the War of 1812.
With a number of museum professionals, military collectors, artists and historians in the
ranks, the regiment researched and developed patterns, secured sources for madder red
wool, shako plates, and so on. Much of the work and sources of the unit were then
passed on to other reenactment units to the benefit of the hobby as a whole. Even
today the patterns are traced and retraced, used and reused by new reenactment units.

The most challenging project undertaken by the unit was its participation at the 175th
Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo in 1990. Through the hard work of two of its
members, this endeavour expanded as it went and other 1812 groups asked to be a part of
it. The whole trip was a great success with 25 Canadian Fencibles on the field of
battle. This tradition was carried on the 8th Regiment of Foot in 1995. The
year 1990 also brought a small group of Canadian Fencibles to New Orleans. The only
redcoats to come to the event since 1986, the organizers showed wonderful hospitality to
their Canadian cousins.

After a long service to the king
and plenty of good memories a number of the Regiment's founding members retired from
reenactment to pursue other challenges.